Surprises, Rap’s New Class Take Over Summer Jam XX (PHOTOS)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — New York City radio station Hot 97 celebrated its 20th annual Summer Jam concert with young rappers who are dominating the charts, a respected veteran hip-hop group and a slew of surprises.

Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey and Lil Kim were among the guest stars of Sunday’s show at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Kendrick Lamar, 2 Chainz, A$AP Rocky and French Montana performed sets that electrified the excited crowd. Wu-Tang Clan hit the stage and were solid, though the energy of the audience — filled with a good number of twentysomethings — dwindled throughout the set.

Here’s a breakdown of the highlights from Summer XX, which also featured Chris Brown, Miguel, Wale, Fabolous and Joe Budden.

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SURPRISE: IT’S WEEZY F. BABY AND RICKY ROZAY

No offense to French Montana, but Summer Jam XX would have been disappointing if the rapper closed the five-hour concert alone. Thankfully, he brought out Rick Ross — and then to the largest roar the audience gave Sunday night — there came Lil Wayne. They performed the addictive hit, “Pop That,” as the crowd sang along and jumped up and down.

Bringing out a special guest (or guests) was the night’s theme: Minaj earned cheers when she helped 2 Chainz on “I Luv Dem Strippers” and “Beez In the Trap,” Fabolous brought out fellow Brooklynite Lil Kim and R&B singer Miguel had J. Cole and Mariah Carey help him with his set.

A$AP Rocky, 24, said he’s a big fan of 90’s hip-hop, namedropping acts like Wu-Tang Clan, N.W.A., UGK and Three 6 Mafia as favorites. But he wasn’t all talk: Quickly after he spoke about his rap heroes, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony joined him onstage.

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HIP-HOP’S NEW CLASS TAKES OVER

Hot 97 was celebrating 20 years of Summer Jam, but rappers in their twenties dominated the annual concert. Hip-hop’s new class, including Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, French Montana and 2 Chainz (he’s 35, but appeals to a younger audience), kept the crowd of thousands on their feet, performing back-to-back jams that have controlled urban radio in the last year.

Lamar, who is the critical darling of the bunch, was the best of the youngsters: He was cool onstage as he rapped songs from his near-platinum major label debut, “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” including “Poetic Justice” and “(Expletive), Don’t Kill My Vibe.” He left out “Swimming Pools (Drank),” though that song would have been appropriate since the audience was drenched after it rained — several times — at the MetLife Stadium.

2 Chainz entered the stage rapping his verse from Kanye West’s “Mercy,” and he followed that with a number of radio hits, including “I’m Different,” ”Birthday Song” and “No Lie.” A$AP Rocky was wild onstage, and rap’s new class showed the brotherly love when he was joined by Lamar and 2 Chainz for “(Expletive) Problems.”

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THAT WAS A LITTLE AWKWARD

Nicki Minaj is obviously confident — not many people wear multi-colored wigs like she does. But on Sunday, things were just a little awkward for the rapper, and for a couple reasons.

Last year Minaj backed out of headlining Summer Jam after Hot 97’s Peter Rosenberg dissed the rapper and her dance-pop hit, “Starships.” Minaj debuted in 2009 deeply rooted in rap, but later she began to sing on her songs and found success with electronic-based tunes and collaborations with David Guetta. But the 30-year-old returned to the Summer Jam stage — for mere minutes with 2 Chainz — in a curly blonde wig and blue jeans. She exchanged words — they seemed cordial — with Rosenberg onstage after performing.